(above) Gold Award recipients with Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith
Fanwood-Scotch Plains Girl Scouts recognized for completing Awards
On June 5, 2019, the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Girl Scouts recognized five girls who have completed the Gold Award, 11 who have completed the Silver Award, and 10 who are graduating from high school.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that high school-age Girl Scouts can earn. After completing prerequisites each girl plans and creates a sustainable community service project addressing an issue of interest to her. This year’s FSP Gold Award recipients and their projects are:
Katherine Agnello observed that every year, high school seniors graduate and go off on their own for the first time. They don’t understand how to make the right choices in order to maintain a healthy diet. Katie’s Girl Scout Gold Award project worked to fight this lack of knowledge by educating incoming college students about healthy eating choices. During four classes she taught recipes, tips, trivia, and creative challenges to give students a fun way to understand why good nutrition is important. Katie also created a website featuring short videos demonstrating how to make some of the delicious food made during the classes plus even more tips and recipes.
Audrey Davis created a special-needs walking club called the A.W.A.R.E. Club (Active Walking and Respite Exercise Club). The project helped special needs teens and young adults grow physically, become socially active, and created lifelong connections with their volunteer walking buddies. Over six sessions during the summer of 2018 A.W.A.R.E. Club grew to more than 70 participants and made a tremendous impact on the special-needs community throughout all of New Jersey. The club will continue in the summer of 2019 with the help of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Department for Persons with Special Needs.
Rachella Carlino created a music therapy program at the Chelsea Nursing Home called “Songs Make Smiles” to use music as a tool to stimulate memories and brain activity in dementia patients. Rachella sang multiple songs to the residents every week and printed song booklets so they could join in. Selecting songs from when most of the residents were younger helped spark emotions and memories among the group. Rachella also organized crafts and projects for residents who preferred to listen to the music rather than sing. Other students from the high school music department joined Rachella at every session to help engage and connect with the residents and stayed after the music to talk to the residents about the music they heard.
Anita Dazzo worked with the organization Need2Read, which promotes literacy in low income families in Union County. Anita started a Need2Read club at Scotch Plains Fanwood High School that gained more than 50 members. This year the club hosted a book drive, a fundraiser, and an event to raise awareness. An event was held at McGinn Elementary School with 3rd and 4th grade students where club members presented a variety of fun reading activities and spoke about homelessness and the effects it can have on literacy. The high school club members also volunteer with homeless children to promote reading and help with homework at events held in the community by Need2Read.
Isabella Verga incited interest in music education and addressed the need for music education in communities that lack resources. She collected a total of 66 used instruments from people in her community that were donated to Asbury Park Music Foundation, which refurbishes instruments and provides them to students of local music programs who desire to play but cannot afford to buy their own instruments. Isabella also hosted a booth at community street fairs that provided children with interactive experiences with a variety of instruments, and created an informational flyer that educates parents on the benefits of music education.
Troop leaders of Gold Award recipients are Courtney Agnello, Sally Davis, Susan Dazzo, Tina Fairweather, Liz Maythenyi, Maureen McNamara, Jennifer Power, and Susan Schuman.
The Silver Award is the highest award that can be earned by Girl Scouts of middle-school age. This year’s FSP Silver Award recipients and their projects are:
Amanda Hill and Ivana Fontora completed a project wit Lifeline Animal Rescue, a rescue center for cats.
Victoria Solsky, Dylan Klein and Olivia Linderman created a reading program with the Coles School PTA After School Enrichment Program.
Sofia Ciullo worked on character development activities with children at Plainfield Elementary School.
Alexa Fazio and Alyssa Warbeck created birdhouses with residents of Brightview Senior Living in Warren.
Katelyn Gaulin, Natalie Green, Maeve Kahora and Catie Wilson collected donated sports equipment and painted a mural on the recreation building at Farley Field in Scotch Plains.
At the conclusion of the evening graduating 12th grade Girl Scouts walked over a ceremonial bridge to symbolize their passage to adult Girl Scouts, and Gold Award recipient Isabella Verga played “Taps” on the trumpet.
(above) Gold Award recipients with Diana Beck Clemens, Board Chair of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey; and Rev. Michael Ward of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scotch Plains, where the ceremony was held.
(above) Gold Award recipients with Julie Murphy representing the FSP Rotary Club.
